Loose-leaf-binder lock



Aug. 3, ,1926.- 1,594,693

S. S. REESE I LOOSE LEAF BINDER LOCK Filed May 12 192.5

Patented Aug. 3, 1926.

1,594,593 rFieE.

'arsnr SAMUEL s: REESE, or BROOKLYN, EW YORK, nssrenort TO nitntoic'raarsoo inc,

. on NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or new Yon-K;

LoosE-tEAF-Bmnna LOCK.

' Application filed May 12,1925. Serial No. 29,704;-

My invention relatesto a new and improved loose leaf binder lock.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a simple and automatic lock for con- :i necting the two parts of a loose leaf binder.-

released position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a lock of this'character which shall automatically operate in all the relative posi tions of the two parts of the ordinary loose leaf binder. I

Another object of my invention is to devise-a lock of this character which shall operate by means of a frictional grip whose force will be increased by a pull the effect of which is to disengage the two bars commonly used in loose leaf binders.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide a lock of this character with a simple and efiicient release. a

Otherobjects of myinvention will be set forth in the following description and drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof, it being-understood that the above general statement of the objects of my invention is merely to generally define the same and not to limit it in any Fig. 1 is a top View.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation. r Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3'3 of Fig. 2, the'parts being shown in their locked position.

Fig. 4 is a view generally similar to Fig. 3"and shows the parts in their disengaged or manner.

Fig. 5 is a detail top View, a portion of the upper section being broken away and being shown in section.-

- Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 1. j 1 p Fig. 7 is a perspective-view of one ofthe lock members.

The fundamental parts of the loose leaf binder comprise a lower section 5 of any ordinary construction having endmembers 1 1 of well known construction to which a leaf 20 is hinged in'the well'known manner. All these parts, as well as the other parts of the device, may be made of any suitable metal. Sockets 11 are connected to the section 5, which may be designated as the lower section or member, and posts 6 and 7 of the usual construction are threaded into the said sockets 11, which are internally threaded in the well known manner. As shown more clearly in Fig. 4, the posts 6 and 7 may be made of two parts connected by co-operating threading, 1n the well known manner. Theupper member l is of the usual construction and it is provided with endmembers 12 to which the metalleaf 1 ishinged in the ordinary and well known manner. This upper member 1 isprovided with end webs 8- and with a central flange or web 9 as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The type of locking device utilized is clearly shown in Fig. 7. This consists of a cut-out lockmember 16 adapted to rest upon thebottomof the upper member land to be rigidly connected thereto by means of a rivet 17 whose position is shown in Fig. 5. Any' number of such rivets may be employed.

The outer end of each lockmember 16-is provided with notches and a locking mem ber 15 made of resilient metal-is provided with ears 19 whichlit into these notches so that these cars 19 act as pivot members whereby each locking member 15 may be turned up and down. Each locking member 15 is provided with a-hole through which a binding post may project as shown in Fig. 3, for example. Each locking member 15-is provided with an end notch, and a resilient metal tongue 18 connected to'the lock member 16 by means of a rive-t 22, presses upon the locking member 15. adjacent said end notch sothat the said resilient lock tongue 18 acts to keep the member 15 in its lowerposition. Y Y

WVhen the parts are assembled,- the bottoms of the lockingmembers 15 rest upon a release plate 10 which is kept in its lower position by meanso'f a blade spring 3 and which can be moved up and down'by means of a release member 2 whose shank passes through a hole in the resilientbla-de spring 3.

The operation of my device'is as follows: v

The diameter of the hole H in each looking member 15, through which one of the binder posts passes, is substantially the same as the diameter of the said post so that when each said locking member 15 is perpendicular to the corresponding post, the said looking member or plate '15 can be slipped up and down the post with little or no friction.

However, if the locking plate 15 is tilted with respect to the post passing through it, as in the position shown in Fig. 3, then there is a sufficient tight fit between each post and the said hole H to firmly lock the parts together if it is attempted to move a locking member loupwardly upon the post while it is in the said inclined position, as illustrated for example in Fig. 3.

Hence, when the upper part of the device 1s pushed downwardly upon the lower part of the device, this can be readily accomplished because the locking members 15 are forced into the horizontal position until the upper part of the device has been pushed downwardly to the desired, position. As soonas the downward pressure upon the upper part of the binder has been released, the locking tongues 18 force the locking members 15 to the inclined or looking positions shown in Fig. 3, for example. If it is attempted to upwardly force the upper part of the loose leaf binder, this is prevented by the frictional engagement between the locking tongues 18 and the respective posts passing through them and this frictional engagement increases in proportion to the unlocking force sothat it is impossible to separate the two parts of the device.

However, the two parts of the binder can be readily disengaged by pulling upwardly upon the release member 2.

This causes the member 10 to be moved upwardly into the position shown in Fig. 4 so that the locking members 15 arev moved into a substantially horizontal position and in this position they can be readily slid upon the binding posts so that the two parts of the device can be disengaged with little or no effort.

It is obvious that the lockacts automatically and can be released very quickly and simply, and that the entire device can be quickly and cheaply manufactured and assembled.

I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, but. it is clear that numerous changes and omissions could be made without departing from its spirit.

I claim 1. In a loose leaf binder, the subcombination of a hollow and perforated binder section, a perforated lock member located within the said hollow binder section and having a perforation aligned with a correspondin perforation in the said hollow section, an a locking plat-e turnably mounted upon the said lock member and having a perforation aligned with the before mentioned perforations. v

2. A device according to claim 1 including spring means mounted upon the said lock,

ing binder section are adapted to pass, lock members located within the said hollow section and connected to said end portions, the said lock members having perforations aligned with the first mentioned perforations,-the said lock members having notches,

locking plates provided with ears adapted to rest in the notches of the lock members so that the said locking plates are turnably connected to the said lock members, the said locking plates having perforations aligned with the before mentioned perforations, spring blades connected to the said lock members and contacting withthe said locking plates and adapted to force them into a position in which they are inclined to the common axis of the said perforations, a release plate having its ends extending under the free ends of the said locking plates, a manually operable member projecting through the central web and connected to the said release plate, and a blade spring having a perforation through which said manually; operable member is adapted to pass, the said blade spring being adapted to forcethe said release plate towards the bottom of the said hollow section.

4. A loose leaf locking device comprising a binder section having posts projecting therefrom, a second hollow binder section, lock members located within and secured to said hollow sect-ion, perforated locking plates removably and pivotally connected to said lock members at their lateral ends so as to have a free tilting movement, the said pivotal connections of said lateral ends being spaced from. said hollow section, said posts being adapted to pass through the perforations in said plates, spring means adapted to urgesaid plates to a position inclined to said posts, and a release member located in said hollow section and adapted to move said locking plates from said inclined position. 1

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

SAMUEL s. REESE. 

